Problem No.
1: Taking money from the register
Credit and debit card purchases may be on the rise, but cash is
still king with some businesses -- and with many crooks.

Solution: Internet Protocol
cameras
Analog tape, closed-circuit video cameras have long watched over
cash registers, but a new wave of Internet Protocol (IP) cameras
is bringing greater convenience and new features.

For example, Atlanta-based MySnapCam provides small businesses with
live streams from internet-connected video cameras. Perfect
for offsite viewing via internet-connected computers or mobile
devices, the service not only enhances loss prevention, but
also monitors customer service and other workplace issues.

Accessible through web browsers, Android and iOS apps, the
service can use up to six cameras and costs between $19.95 and
$39.95 per month. Features include motion detection triggers,
text and email alerts, cloud storage and simultaneous viewing on
multiple devices.

Solution: Cloud-based security
services
Most small businesses don't have the bandwidth to keep watch over
their network, making Check Point SMB Cloud Managed Security a
potentially valuable investment. The San Carlos, Calif.-based
firm manages a range of remote security measures, such as
firewall maintenance, intrusion prevention and antivirus
monitoring.

When it comes to employee theft, the service's auto-logging and
reporting feature may be most valuable. By recording network
activities and keeping detailed logs, companies can see which
files were moved where and by whom, crucial information for
recovering stolen data. Prices start at as little as $19 per
month.

Solution: Data
encryption services
Encrypting customer data can be vital in dealing with this
problem. One solution is the Dataharbor backup appliance from
Vancouver, Wash.-based CRU Dataport, which restricts access on
the hardware level.

Starting at $1,599 (a one-time fee for equipment) and coming in
varying storage sizes, this small business-oriented solution can
create backup copies for up to 25 PCs. With either two
one-terabyte or two two-terabyte removable drives, the device
allows for both local and offsite backup. Just pull out one of
the drives and store it in another location, and your company's
data is backed up.

In addition, Dataharbor's hardware-based encryption makes the
drive hack-proof. Geared toward industries that can't risk data
loss, like healthcare, legal and financial services, Dataharbor
comes with the easy-to-use Microsoft Windows Server Storage
Essentials software built in and supports remote administration
for companies that contract out their IT services.

Problem No.
4: Pilfering products
To try to keep products from walking out your door, you need to
start with sound inventory practices. But traditional strategies
like counting items in stores and warehouses can be a
time-intensive task.

Solution: Radio
frequency identification tags
These tags, known as RFID, come in two varieties that readers can
detect either up to 40 feet way or up to 300 feet away. This
makes it less laborious to account for shelved or stored
products, allowing for an inventory to be conducted more
frequently.

Examples include Inventive, a warehouse management solution
by Paris-based Vizbee RFID Solutions, and various products by
Boca Raton, Fla.-based ActiveWave.

Tags can cost upwards of $5 apiece, depending on their range, and
handheld scanners are priced around $1,000. So these might make
the most sense for high-end retail or high-volume warehousing
businesses. Expect prices to fall, as large companies such as
Wal-Mart Stores have adopted the technology and mandated it for
their suppliers.

Problem No.
5: Cheating on time sheets
Payroll fraud is so rampant in the workplace that you may have
committed it without even noticing. Coming in late, leaving early
and taking extended breaks shave time off the workday -- and also
steal from the payroll budget.

Solution: Biometric identification
systems
These systems keep employees accountable for their time on the
job and prevent "buddy punching," the practice of having
colleagues clock their peers in and out.

One of the many monitoring products is uAttend Employee Management System, which
uses fingerprints, facial recognition, RFID badges and web
interfaces to track employee time on the job. With cloud-based
functionality, iOS and Android capabilities, as well as plenty
of customization, uAttend's readers can cost as little as
$139. The Carlsbad, Calif.-based company's monthly service
charge runs as low as $19.

While it can be a cost-effective way to enforce employee
accountability, the best approach might simply be to hire
trustworthy workers in the first place. After all, as the old
proverb says, locks only keep honest people out.